Report of Resolutions Committee, 2016 Convention

The Resolution Committee received eight proposed resolutions from Leagues this biennium and were able to recommend all but two. We joined with the LWV Florida in proposing one emergency resolution as provided for in the Rules.

The Resolutions Committee evaluated each resolution objectively in terms of the criteria as set out on page 20 of the Workbook. In order to be reported affirmatively to the Convention delegate body, a resolution must meet the eight criteria stated in the rules for resolutions.

Recommended

Resolution on Gun Safety and Center for Disease Control ResearchSubmitted by: LWV Florida

Proposal from the League of Women Voters of Florida urging LWVUS to support restoration of funding for gun violence research at the CDC. In keeping with the LWVUS strong positions on gun control, recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) showing 33,636 Americans died due to firearms in 2013, and an April 2016 letter from 141 medical organizations urging Congress to restore funding for gun violence research at the CDC, we propose a resolution supporting and advocating such research

In the wake of our country’s worst mass gun violence in our history that killed 49 people in Orlando, Florida, we ask for a moment of silence to remember those who were killed, pray for peace for their families and friends and strength for the community and our country.

Be it also resolved to continue our longstanding position on Gun Control as adopted by 1990 Convention and amended by the 1994 and 1998 Conventions:

It reads:

The League of Women of the United States believes that the proliferation of handguns and semi-automatic assault weapons in the United States is a major health and safety threat to its citizens. The League supports strong federal measures to limit the accessibility and regulate ownership of these weapons by private citizens. The League supports regulating firearms for consumer safety.

The League supports licensing procedures for gun ownership by private citizens to include a waiting period for background checks, personal identity verification, gun safety education and annual license renewal. The license fee should be adequate to bear the cost of education and verification.

The League supports a ban on “Saturday night specials”, enforcement of strict penalties for the improper possession of and crimes committed with handguns and assault weapons, and allocation of resources to better regulate and monitor gun dealers.

Resolution on Supporting Full Rights for the People of DCSubmitted by: LWV District of Columbia

Whereas, since its founding, the League of Women Voters of the United States has defended the rights of all American citizens to vote; and

Whereas, the League’s advocacy made a difference in passing the District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973 which gave DC citizens the right to vote for their local officials for the first time in 100 years; and

Whereas, the support of Leaguers across the country was critical in securing Congressional approval in 1978 of the proposed Constitutional Amendment that would have given the people of DC the right to vote for members of Congress; and

Whereas, in spite of the National League’s past efforts and current strong positions, the people of DC still do not have the right to vote for members of Congress and are subject to Congressional interference in their state and local government; and

Whereas, the New Columbia Admission Act, which is now before Congress, would create the 51st state of New Columbia out of the residential and commercial areas of DC, while keeping the core of federal buildings, monuments, museums and the mall in the smaller federal District of Columbia. This would at last make it possible for the people of DC to have the right to vote for members of Congress and to be free of Congressional interference; and

Whereas, this new state will become the 51st state of the United States of America when legislation is passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the President; and

Whereas, statehood for the people of DC is consistent with the LWVUS position on DC Self Government and Full Voting Representation; and

Whereas, passage of legislation that would provide statehood for the people of DC requires sustained advocacy during several Congresses; and

Whereas, support for statehood for the people of DC has been gaining momentum during the last three Congresses and now has record numbers of cosponsors in both the House and the Senate; and

Whereas, mobilizing sufficient support to pass legislation that would provide statehood for the people of DC will require the advocacy of voters who do have Congressional representation; and

Whereas, support from the League of Women Voters of the United States will make it possible to significantly increase Congressional support for statehood for the people of DC:

Therefore, be it resolved that the League of Women Voters of the United States will make statehood for the people of the District of Columbia a legislative priority.

Whereas, the LWVUS supports aggressive efforts to restore balance to the planet’s climate system by reducing the atmospheric carbon dioxide to 350 parts per million (ppm), the upper safe limit,

Whereas, 21 youth plaintiffs from across the United States and Dr. James Hansen, head of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (1981-2013), on behalf of future generations received a favorable decision from U.S. Magistrate Judge Coffin allowing them to pursue a lawsuit against the federal government “for violating their constitutional rights to life, liberty and property, and their right to essential public trust resources, by permitting, encouraging, and otherwise enabling continued exploitation, production, and combustion of fossil fuels,” and

Whereas, U.S. District Court Judge Aiken scheduled oral argument for the youths’ landmark climate lawsuit on September 13, 2016 in Eugene, OR,

Therefore be it resolved, the LWVUS consider signing onto an Amicus Brief with the 21 youth plaintiffs from Our Children’s Trust.

Whereas, the LWVUS supports aggressive efforts to restore balance to the planet’s climate system by reducing the atmospheric CO2 to 350 (ppm), the upper safe limit, and

Whereas, the United States signed and now, as one of the largest GHG emitters, should ratify the UN COP 21 Paris Agreement,

Therefore be it resolved, LWVUS support the United States ratification of the UN COP 21 Paris Agreement.

Resolution Promoting an update of the White House Climate Plan Published June 2013Submitted by: LWV Oregon

Whereas, to halt the climate crisis and reach the 350 ppm, Dr. James Hansen and international climate scientists have set a 2016 target requiring an immediate 8% reduction of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually in conjunction with atmospheric carbon dioxide drawdown through mass reforestation, and soil management, and reduction through such methods as renewable energy sources and conservation,

Whereas, that percentage will go up annually if there is more delay,

Whereas, the White House Climate Change Plan dated June 2013 does not reflect current science, and

Therefore be it resolved, that the LWVUS should continue working for full implementation of the EPA Clean Power Plan, especially at the state level, as a first step, and should call on the White House to implement an updated science-based Climate Action Plan that stabilizes global warming by bringing CO2 levels down to no more than 350 ppm by 2100.

Not Recommended

The following two proposed items are not recommended because they should be proposed during the Program debate.

A proposal from the LWV of Tacoma-Pierce County, WA calling on LWV to amend wording of LWV position on Equality of Opportunity

Equality of opportunity for education, employment, housing, and access to all governmental benefits and privileges, for all persons in the United States, regardless of their race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability. We found that it did not meet the requirements for a resolution and should be handled through the program planning process. We resolve that the League of Women Voters will sponsor educational events, encourage governmental policy change, and seek to implement real world actions around the nation to limit global warming, reduce storm water runoff, limit fuel usage, and increase energy efficiency and energy conservation.

A proposal from the LWV of Tacoma-Pierce County, WA on Climate Change We resolve that the League of Women Voters will sponsor educational events, encourage governmental policy change, and seek to implement real world actions around the nation to limit global warming, reduce storm water runoff, limit fuel usage, and increase energy efficiency and energy conservation.